Zambia: UN Pays Tribute to Sakeni

THE United Nations (UN) has paid tribute to the late Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Kennedy Sakeni.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal expressed sadness at the passing of Mr Sakeni.

In his message of condolences delivered to the Permanent Mission of Zambia to the UN, Mr Tieffenthal described Mr Sakeni as a symbol of the enduring relationship between Zambia and the UN that began before the country's independence and had continued in the fulfilling years after.

"I was saddened to learn of the Honourable Sakeni's passing. We were extremely honoured by the interest he had taken in the Department of Public Information (DPI), and his readiness to see so many of our operations, and meet so many of our staff, at first hand," Mr Tieffenthal said.

This is contained in a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at Permanent Mission of Zambia to the UN, Chibaula Silwamba yesterday.

"We were proud to count on his support in our common mission of engaging the national public with the work and purpose of the United Nations.

"I know the Minister would have been gratified, as we are, that in this endeavour we can continue to count on young and energetic friends like you. Please share my most sincere condolences with the Minister's family and the Government of Zambia," he said.

Before his death, Mr Sakeni was scheduled to meet Mr Tieffenthal, the UN Committee on Information chairperson Lyutha Al-Mughairy, and senior officials in the UN's Department of Public Information (DPI) to foster closer working relationship among the DPI, the Zambian Government and media on various subjects on information, broadcasting and social media.

Zambia is part of the five-member bureau of the Committee on Information (COI), representing the African region.

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